Griffith, George M.

GRIFFITH

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 11/19/2008 at 14:01:51

George M. Griffith

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.271, York Twp.)
George M. Griffith, farmer, P. O. Neola, was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, May 26, 1850. He is the son of Mahlon and Elvira (Mathew) Griffith. His father was a potter by trade, was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1817, and is still living in Harrison County, Iowa, and is engaged in raising stock. Our subject's mother was born in Virginia, near North Pass, in the Alleghanies, in March, 1828, and is still living. His parents had eleven children, five sons and six daughters, all of whom are living. Our subject received a common school education and worked at home until he was twenty-one years of age. He began life for himself by farming, threshing and dealing in stock. He was married, in Knox Township, this county, April 26, 1875, to Mary Randal, born in Peru, Hardy Co., W. Va., September 20, 1858; she is the daughter of Jacob and Leah (Stickley) Randal, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Her father was a farmer and an artist, born in October, 1828, and died in Washington County, Iowa, in 1871. Her mother was born June 30, 1828, and is living near Avoca, in this county. Our subject's parents came from Ohio in 1850, stopped in Van Buren County a short time, and then went to Iowa County, finally coming to this county in 1853, locating about one mile east of Avoca. The family went back to Ohio in the spring of 1858, but returned the following year to this county. In 1876, the father moved to Harrison County, Iowa, where he still resides. After his marriage, our subject settled down to farming on his own place, south of Avoca. He sold out, however, and moved nearer Avoca, shortly after which he moved to Lynn Grove, and farmed the Taylor place on Silver Creek. After this he bought and improved a farm in York Township. A year afterward, he sold it and moved back to about four miles south of Avoca. After this he bought and improved his present farm. He has had three children, but one of whom is living - Claude, born February 26, 1877, died October 4, 1880; Guy, born November 17, 1878, died September 8, 1880, and Waldo M., born march 10, 1881. Mrs. Griffith is a member of the church of the United Brethren in Christ. In politics, Mr. Griffith is a Republican.